My 2008 4Runner’s rear glass hatch just exploded on its own, and it turns out it was part of an “extended warranty” that I was supposedly notified about, but I never received any notice. Toyota says they informed me back in 2018, but I kept up with every recall and completed everything I was told to.
My local dealer even confirmed it was in their system but didn’t tell me. The glass shattered out of nowhere, and my dad, who recently had heart surgery, was sitting in the back.
Any advice on how to get Toyota to help with this? Appreciate any tips!
Just a heads up, extended warranties and Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) aren’t recalls. You did complete all the recalls, but the warranty extension only applies if there’s a problem during that time. Since it’s an older car, Toyota doesn’t have to do anything now.
TL;DR - Unfortunately, there’s not much that can be done at this point.
The coverage for the extended warranty on the glass expired in 2018, it is now 2024 and while unfortunate that the glass broke spontaneously, you’re gonna have to pay to get it replaced.
This isn’t a recall, it’s a warranty enhancement, which just extended the duration of the basic warranty to cover this component if it failed within the time frame, which yours has not.
FYI, dealerships aren’t allowed to “advertise” warranty extensions or programs like Customer Support Programs. They can only tell you about it if you bring up the specific issue yourself, or if a technician checks for it during diagnosis.
If they advertise these programs, Toyota can make them pay back the cost of those repairs. It’s pretty strict.
Thanks for the input. My 4Runner was flagged for this issue, and it’s in my VIN history, but no action was taken since it hadn’t shattered. It’s frustrating because this isn’t some random gadget—it’s a car that could have injured someone. Toyota’s handling of this isn’t right.
Appreciate the comments! I found out my car was part of the extended warranty, and it was serviced during that period. I think Toyota should’ve been more proactive about informing owners about this.
Caiden said:
Appreciate the comments! I found out my car was part of the extended warranty, and it was serviced during that period. I think Toyota should’ve been more proactive about informing owners about this.
There isn’t really any preventative action here.
If the glass had broken within the warranty window, Toyota would’ve fixed it. But if it wasn’t an issue back then, there’s no requirement for them to notify you now.
Caiden said:
Appreciate the comments! I found out my car was part of the extended warranty, and it was serviced during that period. I think Toyota should’ve been more proactive about informing owners about this.
Toyota would have sent notices, but it’s been eight years. You’d have to remember every notice you got on the car over that time. That’s how they’d inform you.
@Tallis
That’s just it—these notifications stand out, and I pay attention to anything I get on my car. I remember getting a notice for the gas pedal, but not for this. My VIN was flagged for it, and my service dealer confirmed it, but no one ever mentioned it to me. I feel like Toyota should be better about this. My father, who just had surgery, could’ve been hurt.
@Caiden
I get it, but they probably think they did their part by notifying everyone back then. As much as I understand your frustration, that’s just how they handle it.
@Caiden
Just to clarify—it’s a TSB, not a recall. Dealerships don’t have to notify you about every TSB unless the issue comes up during the warranty period. Outside of that, it’s on you.
Your VIN might have been flagged, but if the glass didn’t shatter within the warranty window, there’s no obligation for them to cover it.
